Silo-roof.



W. D. CHURCH.

SILO ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 26. 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@zwi/lineman T/1A M THE NoRRlS FEI ERS C0., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C

W. D. CHURCH.

SILO ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.36, 191s.

l, 1 O9, 109. Patented Sept. 1,1914

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A 514 @en oz /a .,LQ.

THE NQRRIS PETERS Co.. Pforo-LITHA'J.4 WASHINGTON. Dv C,

N UNITED sTATEsv PATENT oEEicE.

WALTER D. CHURCH, or CALEDONIA, ILLINoIs.

SITIO-ROOF.

To all whom it may concern c Be it known that I, -WALTER D. CHURCH, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Caledonia,.in the county of Boone and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silo-Roofs, of which' Y the following isa specification.Y

lThis invention relates to silos, andfmore [particularly to a new and novel roof, or

vio

covering for the saine.

. .An object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive construction formed of a plurality of sections, which .are hingedly connected to the upper edge of the silo in such a kmanner that they may be swung upward, thus opening the Vtop of the silo and allowing vthe ensilage to be put in the silo from the top of the same. These lsections will further form extensionswfor the sides of the silo, increasing the capacity of the same, and` when the ensilage has setf `tled the sections may be `folded inward', vforming a roof or coveringk for the silo. f

Another object of this invention is to provide anovel and -efficient ventilating meansv for the interior of the silo, which is mounted upon the topv of the same, thereby allowing the fumes, etc., to'pass outward and prevent the ensilage, which .is next `-the roof of the silo, from deteriorating, as is commonly the "A still furtherobject of this invention is to connect the hinged sections of the roof to the interior of the sides ofthe silo by companying drawingsand claimed.

tary view of a portion of ythe" improvedroof adjustable means whereby thesections may be rigidly held in any desired position. ",k

Withthe foregoing andother objectsin view, this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination k'and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter` more fully described, illustrated in theac- In describing the invention in detail, refn erence will be yhad to the accompanying drawings whereinvlike charactersl of refer'- ence designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is the top plan view-.of a silo having the improved roof and fventilating means applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a fragmenshowing, in dotted lines, the :manner of coni necting the sections/,to the ,top of the silo. l I1`ig.'34 is a cross-sectional view through the the sections closed, in solid lines, and opened,

top of the` improved '-roofand silo, showing Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 1, 1914,. i Application led April 26, 1913. Serial No. 763,842.

yfor connecting the sections to the inner sides of the silo, and for holding them kin adjusted positions; and, Fig. 7 yis a detail perspective view of aimember employed in holding the various sections inplace.

. In referring to the drawings by numeral 1 designates the sides of the silo which is constructed inthe usual manner, being circular in cross section, and which has hingedly connected tof its upper edge a plurality of triangular-shaped sections 3, 4, and 5. Each of the triangular-shaped sections has its base which is disposed over the outer edge of the silo 1, curved as is clearly shown in the'drawings. This feature is employed to increase the attractiveness ofappearance yof the device, as well as to cause the roof to conform to the shape of the silo. The triangular-shaped sectiont has a cut-out portion formed therein, which cut-out portion haskdoor 6, forming a closure for'the same. Thedoor 6 hingedly connected to the section 4f, as at 7 and forms a means for egress into they silo whenever desired.I

The various sections of the roof of the silo are hingedly connected, as has been lieretofore'stated, to the upper end of the side 1 of the silo by means of hinges 8. The `Vsection of the hinges 8, which are secured to .tliesections of thereof, are peculiarly shaped, as is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,vliaving bars `disposed between a portion thereof, and the sections so that sections will be properly held in theirrespectivepositions thereby.y Rigidly connected to theinner surface of each yof the sections,at a point. substantially midway of the ends thereof, are members 10 which have earslly depending therefrom. Bars 12 are pivotally connected tothe ears 10,.asat.13, and

have formed on their inner and lower ends 14, projections 15. The projections 15 extend ylaterally in relation to the longitudinal lines of the'jfinembers 12, and arel bent about second members 16, which are pivotally con- `nected to ears 17. The ears 17 are formed upon members 18 which are secured to the inner surface of the sides 1 of the silo at anyy desired point, as is` clearly shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. The upper ends ofy the members 16 are provided with projections 19 which are bent about the members 12. The bending of the extensions 15 and 19 about the members 12 and 16 respectively connect these two members in slidable en-` gagement with each other. For rigidly holding the members 12 and 16 in any desired adjusted position, tliuinb-screws 20 are provided. The thumb-screws 2O are mounted in the end of the-member 1G which have,l the extensions 19 formed thereupon and engages the member 1G, as is clearly shown.

The section 3 of the roof has a substan-v tially conically shaped member A21 secured to its inner end by means of bolts 22 and ay plate 23. The substantial, coiiically shaped member 21 has its apex cut away, as is clearly shown in the drawings, and also has a plurality of openings 24 serially arranged within its side. The openings 24 receive the angular ends 25 of the plates 26. Each of the sections of the roof, with the exception of the section 3, have a plate 26 secured to the inner surface thereof, and near their inner ends by means of bolts or any other suitable securing means 27. These plates 26 are secured to the sections of the roof so that when the sections are closed or swung inwardly so as to form a roof for the silo, the annular ends thereof will be seated in the openings 24, thereby aiding in holding' the sections in place and preventing the in, ner ends of the sections from sagging. f A hood 28, which is constructed of sheet metal, or similar material, and which has its base 29 formed so as to it snugly over the inner ends of the sections of the roof, is provided. This hood 28 has an angularly; shaped cap 30 mounted upon the sides 31 thereof. The sides 31 are provided with plurality' cut-out portions, so as to form an efficient and practicalventilator or the interior of the silo. The air or fumes con.- tained within the silo will, naturally, pass upward, and by the provision of the coni'- cally shaped member 21, which has its apex cut away, and the hood 28, will be allowed to pass out of the silo, thus preventing the deterioration of the ensilage near the roof of the silo.

When it is desired to fill the silo with the eiisilage, the various sections of the roof are swung upwardly, as is indicated in dotted lilies in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The thumbscrews 20 are then adjusted and the sections are held rigidly in place during the entire operation of the lling of the silo. TWhen it is desired, the sections will also form eXtensions for the sides or the silo, thus increasing the capacity of the latter, and allowing of a greater amount of green eiisilage to be put in the silo. After the ensilage has settled,

the sections may then be swung inwardly, as is shown by solid lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings; and when the hood 28 is putup on the inner ends of the sections, a waterproof and eiiicient roof is provided for the silo; and also the Ventilating means for the interior of the same.

In practical ields, certain minor features oic construction, combination and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations t0 which the patentee is entitled, provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is: Y y

1. A silo roof composed of a plurality of triangularly-shaped sections hingedly connected to the upper edge of the sides of a silo` and Ventilating means permanently connected to the inner end of oneof said triangularly-shaped sections and releasably engaging the inner ends of the remaining sections to support the same. p

2. A silo roof composed of a plurality of triangularly-shaped. sections hingedly connected to the upper edge of the sides of a silo, meansconnected to each of said triangularly-shaped sections and to the intei rior of the sides of the silo for holding said sections in adjusted positions and ventilating means connected to the inner 'end of one of said triangularly-shaped sections and fittingbeneath ythe remaining sections to releasably support the same.

3. In a silo roof, the combination yof a plurality of triangularly-shaped sections yhingedly connected to the upper edge of the sides of a silo, adjustable bracing means con# necting each of said sections directly to the interior of the sides of the silo for yholding saidtriangularly-shaped sections in adjusted positions, a conically-shaped member secui'ed to one of said sections said conically` i shaped member forming a ventilator for the interior of the silo, and a hood fitting over the inner ends of said sections and forming a means for preventing water from entering the silo through said conically-shaped mem` ber.

l 4. In a silo roof, the combination of a plurality of triangularly-shaped sections hingedly connected to the upper edge ofthe sides of' a silo, adjustable bracing means connect ing 'each `of said `sections directly to the interior of the sides'of the silo for holding said triangularly-shaped sections in adjusted positions, a conically-shap'ed member secured to one of said sections said conically-shaped member forming a ventilator for the interior kof the silo, a hood fitting over the inner endsof said sections and forming a meansfor ypreventing water from entering the'silo through said conically-shaped member, said'conically-shaped member provided with a plurality of openings through its side and means mounted upon ythe inner sides of said sections adaptedto be inserted in said openings or aiding in holding said sections in place. c

5. In a silo roof the combination of a plurality of sections hingedly connected to the upper edge of the sides of a silo, a-v collar provided with an open upper end rigidly secured to the inner face of one of saidy secsides of the silo, a ventilator rigidly secured to yone of said sections, means carried by the remalnlng seotlons to releasably engage Said Ventilator whereby saidyentilator will sup-` y port the inner-end portions of said sections, and adjustable supporting means for holding said. sections at a desired angle.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

i y L WALTER D. CHURCH. l Witnesses:y y l L. M. SWEENEY,

MURIEL LAMPEN.v

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each,` by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, V y Washington, D. C. 

